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How many coin dealers don't meet expenses traveling the show circuit?

I would guess some shows would be better than others but at what point do you throw in the towel and say it isn't worth it?

Comments

  • Sales at shows don't always have to cover traveling and show expenses, but most of the time they do. Fresh inventory bought at the show and sold to clients back home or making new clients by marketing what you've bought at shows dramatically more than makes up for slow show sales. That is, if you can find the nice fresh material you went searching for.
    Brandon Kelley - ANA - 972.746.9193 - http://www.bestofyesterdaycollectibles.com
  • JulianJulian Posts: 3,370 ✭✭✭
    At some shows, you may not make expenses from sales, but overall I look at shows as part of my overall activity.

    I meet new people, I purchase coins, and I sell coins at shows.

    I really don't try to second guess myself. I try to look at my business globaly.

    One thing that I try to do is get to a show with a large local population base and ease of travel to the location.

    Overall, there are not many dealers who do not make money travelling the show circuit.
    PNG member, numismatic dealer since 1965. Operates a retail store, also has exhibited at over 1000 shows.
    I firmly believe in numismatics as the world's greatest hobby, but recognize that this is a luxury and without collectors, we can all spend/melt our collections/inventories.

    eBaystore
  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 34,843 ✭✭✭✭✭
    When you go to a show, there are two was of succeeding. The first on is obvious. You can “sell your way out of show” by making a lot of nice sales. The other way is “buy your way out the show” by purchasing a lot of general inventory material that you will subsequently sell or fill want lists for customers. Ideally you can have shows in which you do both. image
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?

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